Sturgeon Bay Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sturgeon Bay Bridge
The Sturgeon Bay Bridge in 2009, with the bascule draw span (at the far end) open
Carries	Michigan Street
Crosses	Sturgeon Bay
Locale	Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Other name(s)	Michigan Street Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Bascule
Material	Steel
Total length	1,420 feet (430 m)
Width	24.0 feet (7.3 m)
Clearance above	11.5 feet (3.5 m)
History
Designer	Harrington Keller
Opened	1931
Sturgeon Bay Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Wisconsin Show map of Wisconsin Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Built	1930–1931
NRHP reference No.	07001420
Added to NRHP	January 17, 2008
Rebuilt	2009-2010 (walkway)
Closed	2009-2011 (temporarily)
Replaces	Ahnapee & Western Railroad Bridge
Statistics
Daily traffic	15,300 (2005)

The Sturgeon Bay Bridge, also known as the Michigan Street Bridge, is a historic bridge in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, United States. It was built in 1929 and opened on July 4, 1931. There was a big parade for its opening. It was dedicated as a memorial to veterans from Door County. Plaques on both ends of the bridge still say, "To honor those who gave of themselves, to their country, in times of need." The state of Wisconsin gave it as a gift.

For a while, this was the only bridge connecting the mainland to northern Door County. This happened after an older train and toll bridge was closed. The Sturgeon Bay Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 17, 2008. It was recognized for its special "upper rolling lift bascule" design and its long length.

People fought for ten years to save the bridge from being torn down. Finally, the state decided to build a second bridge next to it. This new bridge would help meet modern safety rules. In September 2008, a new two-lane bridge opened nearby on Oregon Street. The historic Sturgeon Bay Bridge then closed for repairs. Federal safety rules required four lanes for heavy traffic. This was because the bridge opened about 3,000 times a year for boats. The old bridge and the new bridge now work together as one system. The historic bridge reopened in the spring of 2011.

Bridge History and Importance

The Sturgeon Bay Bridge first opened on July 4, 1931. At that time, it was the second bridge in Sturgeon Bay. The first bridge was a toll bridge to the north. That older bridge also carried the Ahnapee and Western railroad line across the bay.

The historic Sturgeon Bay Bridge used to carry Wisconsin Highway 42 and Wisconsin Highway 57. But in 1978, the Bay View Bridge was built. These two highways were then moved to the Bay View Bridge. This helped traffic bypass the city of Sturgeon Bay. After that, the Sturgeon Bay Bridge became known as Wisconsin Business Highway 42/57.

Keeping the Bridge Safe

The Sturgeon Bay Bridge had a big repair project in 1979. By the 1990s, the bridge was known for needing a lot of upkeep. A spokesperson from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said in 1999, "we have been maintaining this bridge since it was built." The bridge closed several times for repairs in the late 1990s. Because of this, the state started looking into plans to replace it.

These plans made a group called Citizens for Our Bridge form. This group is now the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society. They worked to get the bridge listed on the National Register. They also got the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation to list it as one of the ten most endangered places in Wisconsin.

In 2002, the city of Sturgeon Bay and the state of Wisconsin agreed on a plan. They decided to build a second bridge in downtown Sturgeon Bay. This would help with traffic jams. It would also prevent northern Door County from being cut off if the Michigan Street Bridge closed. In 2003, the state agreed to make the original bridge a state business highway. This allowed the state to build and own a new bridge. This was another step toward building the second bridge. After a city vote in 2005, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill. This bill provided money for a second downtown bridge. Construction on a bridge connecting Maple and Oregon streets soon began.

Efforts to Save the Bridge

Because the state planned to replace the historic Sturgeon Bay Bridge, a group formed to protect it. This historic preservation group was called Citizens for Our Bridge. They worked to raise awareness in the community. Their goal was to get money to restore the bridge.

The group held a benefit concert called the Steel Bridge Songfest in 2005. Famous musicians like Jackson Browne and Green Bay native Pat MacDonald performed. Citizens for Our Bridge has held this concert every year since 2005. The 2009 concert had 150 performers. These included Jane Wiedlin, James McMurtry, Freedy Johnston, Victor DeLorenzo, and Louise Goffin.

Bridge Repairs and Reopening

While the second bridge was being built, the Sturgeon Bay Bridge continued to have problems. It urgently needed repairs. A bridge inspection in 2007 found that the bridge was "structurally deficient." This mainly meant its size and parts were not in good shape. In July 2008, the bridge closed for two days because of gear problems. When it reopened, it could only carry light traffic. A bridge worker and police strictly checked the weight limit.

The Maple and Oregon Street Bridge opened on September 22, 2008. After this, the Sturgeon Bay Bridge closed again for repairs. In 2008, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced its plan. They would restore the historic bridge because it was so important. They would also build the second "sister" bridge.

In December 2010, the bridge reopened for people walking and driving. It fully reopened in spring 2011 after painting was finished. Newer features on the bridge include LED lights, traffic signals, and CCTV cameras. The bridge also changed from being opened by hand to being controlled remotely. In 2012, a recreational vehicle was hit by the bridge. This happened because of a mistake by the operator.

How Many Cars Use the Bridges?

This chart shows how many vehicles crossed the Sturgeon Bay Bridge (Michigan Street) and the Oregon Street Bridge each day. You can see how traffic changed over the years. Data is missing for some years when the bridges were closed or being repaired.

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